Coach upbeat despite defeat

Despite his side going down 1-0 to Auckland club Eastern Suburbs, North Force coach Scott Burgess can see his youthful team's potential beginning to surface.
After Eastern Suburbs scored early in the round-five Northern Region Football League Men's Division One match at Madills Farm Reserve, North Force kept their hosts from scoring again and started to dictate play against the side containing All White Allan Pearce and several former National League players.
North Force created chances to score in the second half but could not capitalise, frustrating the team, Burgess said. "It was just one of those days where we couldn't find the net. But overall everyone was pleased with what we did do out there," he said.
Charlie Lacour played impressively up front, while his brother Cody was outstanding at left back, marking Pearce.
Right midfielder Kyle Perkinson also played well as did 15-year-old Daniel "Bieber" Ridgely. "He is the youngest in our team and had a very good game playing centre-midfield," Burgess said.
North Force were improving in each game they played, he added.
"We are getting better and better each week and we kept the intensity up for most of Saturday's game. Eastern Suburbs have some very good players and they are not a poor side by any standard.
"The team is starting to play how we want to play - knocking the ball around and trying to play football rather than just kicking it long and hard and hoping to find someone in our team," he said.
North Force were to play Ellerslie today at Michaels Ave in Auckland, and the team are confident heading into their second match of the long weekend.
"Ellerslie have had mixed results this season and last time we played them [last year] they beat us 5-3. I'm thinking they will be similar to Eastern Suburbs, so if we play well hopefully we will get something out of it," Burgess said. Today's match was to kick off at 1pm.
In Saturday's other round-five matches, Lynn Avon lost to Takapuna 1-3, Matamata Swifts drew 0-0 with Birkenhead United, Glenfield Rovers AFC lost 1-2 to Ellerslie, Papatoetoe defeated Onehunga Mangere 5-2, and Albany United lost 2-5 to Manurewa.